Felicia disinfected the silver needles and quickly began applying acupuncture. Despite her efforts, the rainforest's poisonous plants, numerous and containing toxins of varying and even mutated properties, proved a formidable challenge. The poison spread too rapidly to be expelled. To worsen matters, the eye injury allowed the toxins to rapidly infiltrate Stephan's nervous system.
Felicia felt a pang of frustration. If only she had acted faster… If only her medical skills were more advanced.
Stanley, observing her expression, immediately asked, "Ma'am, how's Mr. Russell?"
Felicia removed the needles and lifted Stephan's eyelids. The redness was gradually fading, replaced by a grayish-white haze over his pupils.
"What the—" Andy cried out, dropping to his knees before Felicia. He pleaded urgently, "Take my eyes! Give them to Mr. Russell!"
Before Felicia could respond, two more subordinates fell to their knees, one after another, eagerly volunteering their eyes. Their faces were filled with sincere desperation. "Take mine! My eyesight is good. Use mine!" "Don't fight me on this! Take mine! My life belongs to Mr. Russell. What's a pair of eyes compared to that?" "You're skilled in medicine. Surely, you can transplant my eyes to Mr. Russell, right?"
Most were familiar faces to Felicia—loyal, silent men who had always stood steadfastly by Stephan. Felicia sighed. "It's useless. Without neutralizing the toxin, restoring his vision is impossible. Now, get up. I'll think of another way."
Stanley helped the men to their feet, sending them to pack up and prepare for departure. Soon, the camp was dismantled, and twenty-one helicopters prepared for takeoff. Stephan was placed in one of the black helicopters. As Felicia boarded, Imogen climbed in unaided, carefully feeling her way along the cabin walls until she reached Stephan's side.
"Imogen, wait for me!" Johanna called, attempting to board.
Stanley roughly yanked her back, shoving her into another helicopter with a cold glare. "If it weren't for this troublemaker," he muttered, "none of this chaos would have happened."
The deafening roar of the engines filled the air as the helicopters lifted off. Inside the cramped black helicopter were only four: the unconscious Stephan, Felicia in a quiet corner, Imogen silently weeping, and Stanley, tight-lipped. Imogen, having witnessed everything, fully understood Stephan's condition. Both siblings were devastated.
"Why? Why did this have to happen?" Imogen murmured, her face etched with frustration and sorrow. "Wasn't it enough that I'm blind? Why did he have to—"
A sad voice came from the corner. It was Felicia who answered.
Imogen's face hardened as she turned to Felicia. "What would an outsider like you know? You heard a few things and think you understand everything?"
Felicia replied, "I don't understand everything, but I do think that when a loved one suffers because of you, guilt is inevitable. If the roles were reversed, and it was the brother who blinded his sister, wouldn't the sister feel the same guilt? She'd probably wish the injured person wasn't her brother, but herself. So, when you asked why he hurt himself, I think it's because of guilt and a broken heart."
Felicia's words made Imogen pause in thought.